Actions made by the DeKalb County Commission at their last regular monthly meeting on June 24, have sparked a grass-roots movement with some local residents mounting a petition drive aimed at stopping the county’s planned funding for a proposed judicial center. At issue is the issuance of bonds, not to exceed $65 million, for the development and construction of a judicial center.
At the meeting, the commission approved a 51-cent property tax increase, increasing the tax rate to $2.51 per $100 of assessed value. Commissioners voting in favor of the adjusted 51-cent property tax increase were Jeff Barnes, Andy Pack, Tony (Cully) Culwell, Glynn Merriman, Mathias Anderson, Larry Green, and Tom Chandler. Voting against were Commissioners Daniel Cripps, Susannah Cripps, Sabrina Farler, Greg Matthews, Myron Rhody, Beth Pafford, and Tony Luna. Mayor Matt Adcock would break the tie voting in favor.
The tax increase was needed in order to secure up to $65 million of bonds for the project, which has yet found a building site or an approved design. With the rate hike, the commission put forth a bond resolution, not to exceed $65 million to fund the project.
The vote on the bond resolution also was also split down the middle. Commissioners voting in favor were Jeff Barnes, Andy Pack, Tony (Cully) Culwell, Mathias Anderson, Glynn Merriman, Larry Green, and Tom Chandler. Voting against were Commissioners Sabrina Farler, Daniel Cripps, Susannah Cripps, Greg Matthews, Myron Rhody, Beth Pafford, and Tony Luna. Once again, Mayor Adcock broke the tie approving the measure.
Commissioner Pafford then noted that according to terms of the public notice, “the public has 20 days from the date of publication to file with the county clerk a petition signed by at least 10 percent of the registered voters of the county protesting the issuance of the bonds.” And that is exactly what happened.
Should the referendum to stop the bond issue pass, it could put the county in a tight spot with the current jail already under a “Plan of Action” by the state and facing decertification without significant progress to remedy housing at the jail. The county must meet state regulations as to square footage, lighting, and security issues at the jail or face decertification. With decertification, the county could face lawsuits, without legal support from the state, and fines until the issues are resolved.
But many residents say that the county simply can not afford a full justice center, and say that officials should focus on simply expanding the current jail. While the property tax rate has been set by the commission for the next year, voters can call for a referendum over the issuance of the bonds. The bond resolution was published in the June 26 issue of the Smithville Review, setting the deadline for the petition for 20 days after that publication.
The petition must bear signatures of at least 10-percent of the registered voters of DeKalb County (at least 1,361 of 13,607 total registered voters) in order for the issue to proceed to a referendum. The signatures must be turned in to the office of DeKalb County Clerk Jimmy Poss by July 16, 2024. Slager said that they have received a flood of signatures but their goal is to receive at least 2,000 before the deadline.
“We started a referendum petition early afternoon on Wednesday (June 26) and this thing has exploded since then,” said Attorney Jon Slager. Slager, a DeKalb County native and Lascassas resident and attorney, is assisting with the petition drive.
“People from every political ideology are asking how they can help us get more signatures,” Slager continued. “Numerous local business owners have asked for petitions to place in their businesses. The amount of support for this petition is like something I've never seen. It seems obvious that an overwhelming amount of the people are not for spending sixty-five million dollars on a criminal justice center, while leaving other needed projects unfunded.”
“At the DeKalb County Fair people were literally flagging us down and stopping us for an opportunity to sign the petition. We need a lot of signatures. We need everyone's help. This is the only recourse the citizens have. If you want the taxpayers to have an opportunity to vote on this issue and a chance to be heard, then this petition is for you.”
According to Slager, the Referendum Petition can be found at the following: Mike's Flower Shop, Farmhouse Finds, Center Hill Metal Works, and Davis Auto Body. Other dates, places, and times to be announced. County Complex Tues – Fri. 2 pm to 6 pm, and Sat. 9 am – 2 pm.
The Initial Resolution as adopted by the county commission states:
“Be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of DeKalb County, Tennessee (the “County”) that for the purpose of providing funds for the (i) acquisition of land for, design, site, development, construction, improvement, renovation, repair and equipping of County buildings, including but not limited to a County jail and judicial center and related facilities, (ii) acquisition of public safety and emergency response vehicles and equipment; (iii) payment of legal, fiscal, administrative, architectural and engineering costs incident to any or all of the foregoing; (iv) acquisition of all property, real and personal, related to the foregoing (collectively, the “Projects); (v) reimbursement to the appropriate fund of the County for prior expenditures for the foregoing costs, if applicable; and (vi) payment of costs incident to the issuance and sale of the bonds authorized herein, there shall be issued payment of costs incident to the issuance and sale of the bonds authorized herein, there shall be used bonds, in one or more series, of said County in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $65,000,000, which shall bear interest at a rate or rates not to exceed the maximum rate permitted by applicable Tennessee law at the time of issuance of the bonds, or any series thereof, and which shall be payable from unlimited ad valorem taxes to be levied on all taxable property within the County”.
“Be it further resolved, by the Board of County Commissioners of DeKalb County, Tennessee that the County Clerk be, and is, hereby directed and instructed to cause the foregoing initial resolution relative to the issuance of not to exceed $65 million general obligation bonds to be published in full in a newspaper having a general circulation in the County, for one issue of said paper followed by the statutory notice, to wit:”
At the county meeting, the commission also approved a $50 wheel tax to be placed on a referendum to help alleviate the burden placed on property owners. County officials say that with a $50 wheel tax, the burden would be shifted off of property owners and would be distributed more fairly across the county. If approved, commissioners say the property tax rate could then be lowered. They also argue that a wheel tax would generally be cheaper for property owners in the long run, depending on the value of their property.
